Mistakes To Avoid When Staging Your Property To Sell

Mistakes To Avoid When Staging Your Property To Sell

When preparing your property for sale in today’s competitive market it’s more important than ever to know how to show off its best features properly to capture the interest of today’s sophisticated buyer. The following are some of our tips for what to include and what to avoid to ensure a quick and easy sale.

Living Room Staged by PJ & Company Staging and Interior Decorating

Don’t Over-Stage

Less is always more with home staging. The proper balance of furniture and accessories as well as arrangement is important to increase perceived room size and overall flow. Too much furniture and accessories can also be very distracting to buyers, keeping them from focusing on the room’s unique features. Stage a room with just enough décor to help buyers get an idea of what it would be like to live there and envision their own furniture in the space.

An updated look doesn’t require a complete overhaul which is an unnecessary added expense. Instead, focus on basic updates and repairs such as replacing light fixtures, hardware, faucets and fresh paint which will go a long way to capture buyer’s attention and send the message that the home is well taken care of and move-in ready.

Family Room Staged by PJ & Company Staging and Interior Decorating

Don’t Forget to Remove Your Personality

Photos and personal collectibles are distracting and don’t help buyers visualize their own decor in the home. Trendy paint colors and rugs, especially in themed rooms is also a turn-off and should be replaced with neutral colors and simple, elegant accessories to enhance the room’s features and help buyers connect.

Bedroom Staged by PJ & Company Staging and Interior Decorating

Don’t Leave Buyers Guessing

Always keep your target audience in mind when marketing to sell and think about how the home will match their needs and­­­ lifestyle. It’s important to bring back a room’s original purpose (as in photo above) to boost perceived value and not confuse buyers.

Don’t Forget About Curb Appeal

Don’t risk losing drive-by shoppers that can’t get past the walkway filled with leaves or snow. Be sure to clean up beds and trim shrubs, fix the broken mailbox or cracked window pane and add some welcoming touches to the front porch to give the best first impression, before buyers even walk through the front door.

AUTHOR:Patti Stern, principal, interior decorator and professional stager of PJ & Company Staging and Interior Decorating, has been decorating and staging homes since 2005. She and her team provide turnkey, full service home staging and interior decorating to clients across Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts. Her company has received Houzz 2015, 2016 and 2017 Awards for Customer Service.Patti has been featured in Connecticut Magazine, the Hartford Courant, Danbury News-Times and on NBC Connecticut and FOX TV. She is a regular contributor to the National Association of Realtor’s Blog, “Style, Staged and Sold.”
For more information, contact Patti Stern at 203-640-3762 or patti@pjstagingdecorating.com